The Rancher’s Christmas Miracle

by Maya Stirling

  After the serving of the tea and coffee, Grace followed Josh out onto the porch. Conveniently, everyone else had found something else with which to busy themselves. Not for the first time, Grace got the impression Matilda and Emma were trying to make sure Grace and Josh spent some time alone together.

  The mid-afternoon air was fresh and cool. The sky was a bright azure blue. It hadn't snowed since the day before, so the thin white layer was thawing, revealing slightly sodden ground beneath. Grace stood awkwardly alongside Josh, acutely aware that they hadn't said a great deal to each other since his arrival for the lunch. There was so much she wanted to ask him. So much she needed to share with him. But, for some reason, now that they were alone, she could feel a sudden distance in Josh's demeanor.

  Determined to push against that barrier, she gazed into his eyes and spoke: "You still haven't told me much about your time in Wyoming," she stated.

  He lifted a brow. "You really want to know what life was like in a town of barely a few hundred folks?"

  "Inspiration isn't much bigger than Buffalo," she said. "And I know that Sheriff Cameron usually has his hands full most of the time."

  Josh grinned. "But Inspiration is a special place, isn't it? I mean, the last time I was here, the worst thing that happened was Brett Calhoun opening up a new saloon."

  Grace groaned and folded her arms. "Don't talk about that man."

  Josh's brows rose with sudden interest. "What's he been up to?"

  "Ask Abigail when you see her," Grace declared.

  Turning to face her, Josh narrowed his eyes. "What happened?"

  Grace told Josh about how Abigail and her husband-to-be, Noah had foiled an attempt to block the course of the river which provided vital water to all the ranches north of Inspiration. Josh groaned when Grace told him about how Abigail had found dynamite in a cave by the river. But, everything had worked out in the end, and Abigail and Noah had married soon after. No-one had managed to prove that Brett Calhoun had been behind the plot, but ever since then, Calhoun had been keeping a low profile around town.

  "Seems like I missed a whole lot while I was gone," Josh stated. "I knew all about Calhoun and how he tried to ruin your uncle's family. But, I figured he might have given up on things once that was over and done with."

  Grace shook her head. "Evil men always find ways to corrupt the good."

  Josh shrugged and leaned against one of the wooden support beams of the porch. "But God always wins in the end. Doesn't He?"

  Grace nodded. "He does. We can trust Him." She peered at Josh. "I'm glad you haven't lost your faith."

  He sighed. "Quite the opposite. When Jeb was gunned down, I quickly learned the real value of faith. It pulled me through some real bad times. And it helped me see what I had to do. What God was asking me to do."

  "Ryan?" Grace asked.

  Josh nodded. "God has sure placed a great responsibility on my shoulders."

  "But, you know what the Bible says. He will not allow a trial into our lives without also giving us the strength and wisdom to deal with it," Grace said.

  Josh's features grew serious. "I'm still trying to find that wisdom." He smiled at Grace. "I thought I had the strength already inside me. And I figure I can handle most of what comes my way." He sighed heavily. "But, when it comes to the wisdom needed to understand and bring up a child, that's where my real trial is going to be in the future."

  Grace rested her hand on Josh's arm. "I know you can do it, Josh. I believe you can do the best for Ryan."

  Sudden emotion filled Josh's gaze. Grace felt her heart quicken as Josh looked at her. There was doubt on his eyes, she told herself. She could see it as plain as day. For all his bravado, for all his pretense at being the capable rancher, Josh Munro looked like he'd been thrown into the deep end when it came to matters of looking after a child.

  "You really believe in me, Grace?" Josh asked quietly.

  Just hearing her name on his lips triggered a wave of emotion in Grace. One she could do nothing to control. Hearing footstep at the front door, Grace removed her hand and took a step away from Josh. Matilda emerged. She halted at the front door. Grace could see a hint of a smile at the corner of her mother's mouth. Had Matilda seen how Grace had been holding onto to Josh?

  "I've been hearing things," Matilda announced. Grace froze and peered, wide-eyed at her mother, wondering what was coming next. "Clara, Bethany and Ryan want to go into town tomorrow. They want to see what Christmas is going to be like here in Inspiration." She smiled at Grace and Josh. "Isn't that a great idea?"

  For a moment, Grace wasn't sure she understood what her mother meant. Seeing the confusion written on her daughter's face, Matilda continued. "Why don't you and Josh take the children into Inspiration tomorrow. You can show Ryan around town. And the children can help you to buy some things for Christmas."

  Grace glanced at Josh and saw that he was interested in Matilda's suggestion. "Is that what they said?" he asked.

  Matilda nodded. "You know what children can be like. When it comes to Christmas, you can't stop them from being excited. Don't you remember what it was like when you were young?"

  "I sure do," Josh replied. He looked at Grace. "What do you think?"

  Knowing she couldn't refuse, Grace nodded. "I think it's a lovely idea."

  Matilda grinned. "That's settled then. I'll tell the children." Then she raced back into the house.

  When she turned to face Josh, Grace saw he was laughing quietly and shaking his head. "What?" she asked.

  "Your ma hasn't changed a bit," Josh said. "She still knows how to do whatever it takes to make sure folks are happy."

  Grace nodded thoughtfully. "I guess you're right. Ever since Abigail and Jake got married, she's found a new lease of life."

  Josh eyes widened with interest. And, for a moment. Grace thought he was about to say something. But, he quickly controlled his features and turned away from her. Grace wondered what he'd been about to say. She figured she already knew. Probably something to do with marriage. Or something to do with family. Whatever it had been, he wasn't going to say it now. Maybe tomorrow, he'd reveal more about what he was thinking. And maybe then she would have to make a decision about how close she was willing to get to Josh Munro.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The next day, Josh sat alongside Grace and Emma on one of the Buchanan family's best carriages as it rolled slowly up Main Street of Inspiration. On the seat behind them sat Clara, Bethany and Ryan. Josh held the reins of the two horses and gazed along Main Street. It was late morning, sunny and cold, and the good folks of Inspiration were already out and about, busy with errands, taking care of the business of everyday life.

  Josh felt emotion tugging at him as he took in the sight of the crowded boardwalk. No doubt, many of these people would recognize him. He wondered what they'd think when they saw him with Ryan. And what they'd make of him being in the company of the two beautiful Buchanan women. Right now, he didn't care about gossip or idle opinions. He was just happy to be back in town. The place where he'd grown up. Where he'd been formed into a man, for better or worse.

  Josh glanced at Grace. She was gazing steadfastly ahead, paying him no heed. Back at the ranch, Emma had offered to sit at the far end of the seat, enabling Grace to sit alongside Josh. But, she'd declined, insisting that Emma sit between her and Josh. He wondered if he'd said something to upset her the day before. All he knew for sure was that she'd avoided looking at him during the journey into town. And anything she had said to him had been brief and curtly spoken.

  Everyone had dressed up in their warmest clothing for the trip into town. Josh recalled that Grace had always been the kind of woman who dressed modestly, but also elegantly. That was still the case. Today, she wore a plain green gown, woolen hat and neat brown boots. Over her gown she wore a heavy red overcoat that looked like it could protect her from even the coldest of days. In fact, Josh thought Grace's choice of colors weren't accidental. The greens and reds declared Christmas.
r />   Dragging his attention away from Grace, Josh examined the storefronts. Every one of them was getting ready for Christmas. As he gazed along Main Street, his eyes were struck by the brightness of the red and green colors on display. Christmas colors, he told himself. Garlands hung on the outside of most of the stores. Brightly-colored decorations filled store windows and edged the corners of buildings and doorways. When it came to Christmas, Inspiration certainly knew how to put on a great show, Josh reflected.

  "Where do you want to go first?" he asked Emma and Grace.

  Emma pointed a gloved hand in the direction of the mercantile. "We could start there, if you like," she suggested. "What do you think Grace?"

  Grace nodded and said nothing. Josh narrowed his gaze, trying to figure out why Grace was being so quiet. Giving up for the moment, he turned to face the children. "What do you think of Inspiration, Ryan?" he asked.

  Ryan was staring along Main Street, clearly taken aback by the extent of the town's preparations for Christmas. "It really looks like Christmas, pa," Ryan replied.

  "We know where we can buy some sweets," Bethany said to Ryan. His eyes widened at the mention of treats.

  Clara dug her elbow into Bethany's side. "Not right now. We have to show Ryan around town first, Bethany. He's new here." Clara sounded annoyed at her sister.

  Bethany gave her sister a stern look. Josh figured there was a friendly rivalry between the two sisters for Ryan's attention. "There'll be time for sweets later," Josh assured them. Judging by the steady look all three gave him, their patience might not last too long.

  Josh parked the carriage in front of the mercantile. The children jumped down and bounded up onto the boardwalk. "Wait there," Josh called out to them. The three children turned to face Josh as he stepped down off the carriage seat. They stood in a line, surprisingly obedient. He noticed that neither Grace nor Emma waited for him to assist them from the carriage.

  "I've got a list of things ma wants me to buy," Grace announced, opening up her reticule and pulling out a small piece of paper. Josh grunted quietly. This was going to turn out to be a shopping trip, after all.

  He followed Grace and Emma up onto the boardwalk. Within moments, Josh heard his name being called out. One after another, people he hadn't spoken to in three years stopped to talk briefly to Josh. After a minute or two it started to feel like a real homecoming. Every one of the townsfolk who spoke to Josh seemed genuinely pleased to see him back.

  As he chatted politely to the folk, Josh noticed Grace was tapping her foot impatiently. Seemed like she was eager to get on with her shopping, he reflected. Or maybe she wasn't entirely comfortable being seen out in town with him. Was she concerned about the impression people might form, now that she had been seen in the company of her former beau?

  Finally, they all made it into the mercantile. The owner, Mr Murchison, shook Josh's hand and welcomed him back to Inspiration. After the last few minutes, Josh was starting to feel like he'd never been away from Inspiration. He was amazed that folks still remembered him.

  For the next half hour, Josh wandered alongside Grace and Emma as they picked out some goods from the many shelves in the mercantile. Every once in a while, Grace glanced at Josh. As the time wore on, she started to ask him what he thought of possible purchases. She was beginning to open up to him, he told himself. At the same time, Josh kept an eye on Ryan, Clara and Bethany. He wasn't the only one doing that. Mr Murchison, no doubt used to the dangers of having children in his store, watched the three children with an eagle eye from beneath his bushy brows.

  At one point, Josh heard some excited yelling from the far end of the mercantile. The children! Excusing himself with a touch to the brim of his Stetson, he left Grace and Emma and raced to the source of the noise. His boots thundered on the wooden floorboards. As he moved toward the source of the noise, he saw Mr Murchison, leaning against the store counter, staring sternly at the far corner near the window.

  Turning the corner of a tall stack of shelves, Josh saw Ryan in the corner. He was holding a glass container, filled with colorful candies. He was twisting the top off the container. At the same time, Clara and Bethany were yelling at him to stop, but Ryan was paying them no heed.

  "Ryan!" Josh called out, feeling a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach.

  Ryan glanced defiantly at Josh and then went back to trying to loosen the top of the jar. Josh saw Mr Murchison making his way out from behind his counter. Sensing trouble, Josh moved faster, edging his way around the wide table in the middle of the room. Clara and Bethany flashed worried looks in Josh's direction. Josh heard footsteps behind him, probably those of Grace and Emma.

  Reaching Ryan, Josh halted, looking down at the boy. "Ryan. What are you doing?"

  Ryan paused and stared up at Josh. "I want some sweets, pa."

  Josh frowned and reached out his hands. "Give me the jar."

  Ryan's brows furrowed and he wrapped his arms around the glass container as if it was already his personal property. He kept hold of the jar as he glanced at Clara and Bethany. Mr Murchison halted at Josh's side. Josh exchanged a look with the store owner, silently asking the man to let him deal with the situation. Mr Murchison's face was grim. To Josh's relief he didn't say anything. Emma and Grace arrived. Gazing down at Ryan's defiant features, Josh wondered what the boy must feel like being scrutinized like this by four adults and two older children. There was a confused look on Ryan's eyes. One Josh had seen before.

  Josh squatted down and peered into Ryan's eyes. "We can buy some sweets, Ryan," he said.

  Inexplicably, Ryan shook his head. "I want the whole jar," he announced.

  Taken aback, Josh frowned, trying to understand what could have driven the boy to make such a demand. Josh heard Clara and Bethany gasp. Ryan's eyes flashed in the direction of the two girls. Smiling slightly, Ryan looked momentarily pleased he'd gotten a reaction out of his newest friends. Realizing this was a delicate situation, and one he had no experience in dealing with, Josh did the only thing he could think of doing. He reached out his hands and waited for Ryan to place the jar in them. His gaze met Ryan's, a silent battle of wills taking place.

  Then, suddenly, Ryan thrust the jar into Josh's hands and dashed in the direction of the door. He moved so fast, Josh didn't get a chance to stop him from reaching the door. With an exasperated glance at Grace, Emma and Mr Murchison, Josh put the jar down on the floor and went after Ryan. Just as the little boy reached the door, it opened. Ryan narrowly avoided the swinging door, and prepared himself for one final dash out to the boardwalk.

  However, the tall figure who'd just entered the store reached down and gently grasped Ryan's shoulders. "Whoa, there," said the man who Josh now recognized as Sheriff Nathan Cameron. Nathan scooped Ryan up and held onto him while staring with puzzlement at Josh.

  Josh slid to a halt in front of Nathan. "Sheriff Cameron," Josh exclaimed.

  Nathan squinted at him. "Munro? Josh Munro? Is that you?" Nathan asked, clearly surprised to see Josh.

  Ryan squirmed in Nathan's arms, but the sheriff held on tight. Nathan smiled at Ryan. "Where do you think you're going, little fella?" he asked. At the sound of Nathan's deep voice, Ryan calmed instantly. The boy's attention had been seized by the shining silver star pinned to Nathan's brown leather waistcoat. "That's right," Nathan explained glancing down at the star. "I'm the law in this town." Nathan nodded his head toward the other onlookers. Josh glanced back at them and saw the relieved expressions on their faces. "Looks like I picked a good time to come on over to the mercantile."